An increasing number of tourists visited Manatee County in 2017, and they spent generously while they were here. But hospitality leaders in the area say they most want to make sure these guests come back as soon as possible.

Statistics released last week by the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau report a 2-percent spike in visitors compared to 2016, with a total of 3,160,700 in total coming into the county. That helped support 26,600 jobs and generate nearly $1.25 billion in economic impact, a greater-than-5-percent jump in both those financial statistics.

Elliott Falcione, executive director of the BACVB, sounded enthusiastic about the numbers. He also told SRQ that his agency remains focused on making sure the visitors come back again and again. The bureau sees dividends from outreach to new visitors to the area. “First-timers to the Bradenton area return within 11 months more than 94 percent of the time,” he says.

Further figures released by the BACVB show that 721,400 of the visitors here stayed in some type of commercial lodging, a 4-percent increase over 2016, while 1,187,300 were classified as in-home visitors, a 2.7-percent increase. Direct visitor expenditures jumped 5.5 percent in total. The bulk of that actually came from day-trippers.

Couples made up 51 percent of visiting parties and 73.4 percent of visitors came here on planned vacations, with an average 4.7-night stay. And an overwhelming 97.8 percent of visitors surveyed by the BACVB reported satisfaction with the visit.

Karen Riley-Love, founder of the Anna Maria Wedding Association and AMU Beach Weddings, says she’s been excited to see the region become an increasing locale for destination weddings. “We also see an increase in ecotourism,” she says. “We see those friendly faces and more people interested in going on turtle walks, beaches and sustainability. Those are the kind of tourists who come back year after year to the same community because they hope to keep it vital.”

Riley-Love, also a board of directors member for the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, last week won the annual Tourism Ambassador Award from the BACVB. The bureau also gave the Ed Hunzeker Hospitality Award to Dr. Patrick Moreo, dean of the College of Hospitality and Tourism Leadership at the University of South Florida.” 

Statistics courtesy BACVB.

• Green Ti-Tox—Tito’s Vodka, Green Goodness Juice (kale, lemon, celery, ginger, cucumber, gala apples), organic agave nectar, splash lemon juice, slice of cucumber

• Skinny Margarita—Sauza Blue Silver Tequila, lime juice, organic agave nectar, splash orange juice, lime wedge

• Frisky Whiskey—Jameson irish whiskey, Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur, orange juice, simple syrup, old fashioned bitters, orange twist

• Paloma—Tres Generaciones Repo Organic, ruby red grapefruit juice, lime, simple syrup, soda, grapefruit wedge

• Flor-ida Pina—Sauza Blue Silver Tequila, St. Germain Elderflower, pineapple juice, lime juice, simple syrup, candied pineapple

• Brown Derby—Buffalo Trace Bourbon, grapefruit juice, honeyed syrup, grapefruit twist

Photos by Wyatt Kostygan.

Brick's 'Booze' Menu, $6.99-$9.99, 1528 State Street, Sarasota, 941-993-1435.

Manatee County Emergency Communications Center (ECC) this week received international recognition, as the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, the world's largest organization of public safety communications professionals, announced last week Manatee County ECC is the recipient of its 2018 Public Safety Communications Technology Leadership: Small Agency Award. The award recognizes communications centers that use technological advancements to benefit their center and the community they serve. In July, the ECC became the second agency in Florida to adopt new technology that will save emergency responders significant time when home alarms sound with the new Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) technology shaving up to three minutes from call processing time. In November the ECC and local fire districts launched Pulsepoint, a free mobile app that alerts citizens trained in hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when someone in a nearby public place suffers sudden cardiac arrest. Also in November, Manatee County ECC became one of two in Florida and 13 in the world to earn a triple accreditation from an international nonprofit that sets standards for dispatch centers. The 911 center received the highest level of recognition for its police dispatch from the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch, or IAED, earning the title of a “Triple-ACE,” or Accredited Center for Excellence, agency. Manatee County Emergency Communications Center process over 222,000 9-1-1 calls each year. 

Manatee County Emergency Communications Center

Gulf Coast Community Foundation is now accepting applications for its Summer 2018 Gulf Coast Board Institute. The Board Institute is a high-level governance training series for volunteer nonprofit board members. The summer session will consist of four full-day trainings from mid-July through early August. An online application is available, and must be completed by June 8 for consideration. The foundation will select up to 25 applicants to participate in the summer Board Institute. The group will meet four consecutive Fridays from July 13 to August 3, covering topics such as the fundamentals of nonprofit board governance, financial and legal oversight responsibilities, and how to create a highly functioning and engaged board. Participants will be selected through a competitive process with the intent of creating a group of individuals with a variety of experiences. Gulf Coast provides all training and resources at no cost to participants in exchange for their commitment to serve as advocates for good board governance in current and future nonprofit board roles. Applicants must be currently active board members at a nonprofit in the region to be considered. 

Gulf Coast Board Institute

Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center (GSAHEC) has launched a program to address language barriers in healthcare and community-based organizations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2011, more than 27% of Floridians spoke a language other than English, and about half report that they “speak English less than very well.” Research has shown that minorities and vulnerable populations are more likely to be re-admitted to hospitals within 30 days of discharge for any condition, and that Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals may be at a greater risk for medical errors, longer lengths of hospital stay and avoidable readmission when trained language interpreters are not used. GSAHEC’s ACCESS Program (Advanced Cultural Competence Education and Support Services) facilitates culturally responsive solutions by offering classes specifically designed for bilingual individuals, health care staff and volunteers that are interested in becoming “Professionally Trained Medical Interpreters.” GSAHEC’s 40-hour course satisfies the training requirement to apply for National Certification. The next course will be offered starting June 14in Sarasota. 

Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center

JFCS of the Suncoast recently announced the appointment of Dean Miller to Board Chair Elect. In this role, Miller will be responsible for coordinating board activities providing leadership, overseeing governance and development, and supporting the mission of the organization. A member of the JFCS Board for the past two years and Sarasota resident since 2002, Miller brings more than 35 years’ senior leadership experience in financial services, including business risk and control, innovation and change management with JPMorgan. He has also served as a vice chairman for Orbian Corporation and consultant for IBM. In addition to his financial services acumen, Miller’s more than 17 years’ international business experience living and working in Asia and Europe, enabled him to promote transparency and disclosure among different cultures and effectively work toward solutions and issue remediation. Outside the business and philanthropic arenas, Miller is a strong supporter of the arts and is Chairman of the Board for Rivo at Ringling Condominium. 

JFCS of the Suncoast

The Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is circulating a FDOT EIS Off Airport Business Survey to assist in the Aviation Economic Impact Study, and is looking for willing participants in the business community. Air transportation is vital to many Florida businesses. Whether air trips are to collaborate with vendors or clients, or shipping vital products and communications, air transport services are a key part of Florida’s infrastructure. The survey serves to help in understanding various businesses’ experiences and views regarding commercial and general aviation airports in Florida. The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete. 

FDOT EIS Off Airport Business Survey

The Allen Wirtz Nobbe and Jo Bowe Nobbe Fund at The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has awarded The Florida Center for Early Childhood with a grant of $25,000 to support the mental health professional position at Gocio Elementary School. The Florida Center is the leading provider of therapeutic services for young children and their families in Sarasota, Charlotte, Manatee and DeSoto/Hardee counties. The funding allows for a mental health therapist to be housed on the Gocio campus full time. This position began in August 2017 through a partnership with The Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The position is intended to support vulnerable parents and their children with “deep” family issues to help break the cycle of trauma that is often generational.  This approach, often referred to as Two Generational or a “2Gen”, creates opportunities to address the needs of both the child and the adults in their life. The position provides one-on-one therapy for students, family therapy, parenting support, and teacher support that can include one-on-one consultation, and classroom support. 

Florida Center for Early Childhood